Over 60 samples sent to lab to test for CWD

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks received results of DNA testing done on a male deer that was found to have chronic wasting disease last month in Issaquena County and they paint a different picture than many have suggested.

"What they know is they compared the genetics of that deer with known genetics they have," said Russ Walsh, MDWFP Wildlife Executive Staff Officer. "The results suggest the genetics match those of free-range deer."

And not just any free-range deer. The genetics match those of samples taken from the Mississippi Delta, which means the deer was not imported, as many have speculated.

"It doesn't change anything," Walsh said. "It just helps us piece a little more of the puzzle together.

"All it really tells us is that it's a native whitetail. All we can know from the analysis is he was a local deer. He was not brought in. That's about all it tells us."

Chronic wasting disease is caused by a misshaped protein that affects the nervous system. It is thought to be spread by direct and indirect contact with other deer and is always fatal in deer. So, the buck being a local deer tells us there are likely more cases out there.

"It lets us speculate that if he is a local deer, where did he contract it?" Walsh said. "Where are those other deer?"